I knew it would destroy him – South African teacher says after killing 4-year-old stepdaughter to ‘punish’ her husband for cheating on her

A 25-year-old South African preschool teacher, Amber Lee Hughes, has shocked the nation after confessing in court to drowning her four-year-old stepdaughter, Nada-Jane Challita, in an act of revenge against her husband for infidelity. 

The chilling admission was made before the High Court in Johannesburg, where Hughes calmly stated she wanted her husband “to suffer” after a heated argument about his affair.

Hughes, who was also the child’s teacher at school, revealed she acted out of “raw pain and rage” following the confrontation. Despite being diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, she insisted she was fully aware of her actions. “I drowned her. I knew it would destroy him. That’s what I wanted,” she told the court.

The confession came as part of supplementary admissions submitted after Hughes changed legal teams. While she accepted responsibility for the murder, she denied allegations of rape also brought against her, stating, “I have no idea where those rape charges are coming from. I never did that.”

Following the killing, Hughes reportedly attempted suicide multiple times, telling the court, “I didn’t want to live after that. I tried… I really tried.”

The case, which has drawn widespread outrage, was postponed to August 7, 2025, for closing arguments. Hughes remains in custody. South Africans have expressed horror over the crime, with many calling it “unthinkable” that a child’s life was taken by someone entrusted with her care.

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